Tax Freedom Day comes later for most Canadians: Fraser Institute

Happy Tax Freedom Day?

Thanks to the Fraser Institute — who crunched all the numbers — we know that June 9th is national Tax Freedom Day, the day where Canadians start working for themselves after paying off the total tax bill imposed on them by all levels of government.

This year's national 'TFD' is one year later than last year's, signifying a greater tax burden on Canadians.

"Without our Tax Freedom Day calculations, it’s nearly impossible for Canadian families to know all the taxes they pay because governments levy such a wide range of taxes including income taxes, payroll taxes, health taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, profit taxes, import taxes, ‘sin’ taxes on liquor and tobacco, and more," Charles Lammam of the Fraser Institute said in a press release.

"The delay in Tax Freedom Day this year continues a trend of delays since 2009 when it fell on June 3. And governments across the country are partly to blame since many have raised taxes after the recent recession to make up for big spending increases and deficits."

Lammam estimates that the average Canadian family's total tax bill has gone up by $1,355 since 2013.

As explained by the Fraser Institute, Tax Freedom Day varies from province to province, depending on the taxation levels of provincial and local governments.

Albertans are the 'luckiest' while those in Newfoundland and Labrador are the most burdened with taxes.

And just in case you were curious: Tax Freedom Day in the United States and the UK was on April 21st and May 28th respectively.

But, don't despair, we're not the worst: Sweden doesn't have its Tax Freedom Day until July.

[ Related: Raising tobacco taxes costly to governments and ineffective on smokers, study claims ]

The Tax Freedom Day campaigns, however, are not without controversy and debate.

There are some who question the Fraser Institute's math, while others deride the fact that the whole campaign discounts the public good that taxes serve.

"Fraser's goal is to paint a picture of Canada as an overtaxed country suffering under the weight of big government," economist Andrew Jackson of the left-leaning Broadbent Institute wrote in a blog post last year.

"The more important discussion lies in appreciating why we pay taxes in the first place. Our tax dollars, far from disappearing into a black hole, are the reason that our roads are paved, our public schools are exceptional, our tap water is clean, and that our public health care continues to keep Americans jealous of their Northern neighbours.

"Let’s not let bad Conservative spending choices, or Fraser Institute propaganda, cloud the fact that our tax dollars go towards paying for things that make us proud to be Canadian."

While that debate invariably continues, enjoy your 'tax freedom.'

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